HONOLULU — Even before the postgame festivities, the University of Hawai'i women's basketball team's senior class made its final appearance in Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center a memorable one. Rainbow Wahine seniors
Imani Perez,
Saniyah Neverson and
Izzy Forsyth combined to hit six of UH's nine 3-pointers in a 67-49 Senior Night win over Cal State Fullerton in Saturday's home finale.
The Rainbow Wahine (18-10, 12-6 Big West) extended their winning streak to six and earned their 12th win in the last 13 games. With the win, the 'Bows caught up with the Titans (16-12, 12-6) in tie for fourth place in the Big West standings entering the final week of the regular season.
Neverson scored 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting, grabbed seven rebounds and set a career high with four assists. In the final home game of her four-year career in Mānoa, Perez hit two 3-pointers and finished with eight points and six rebounds. Forsyth also knocked down two triples and added eight points.
Sophomore Ritorya Tamilo contributed 10 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. In all, the Rainbow Wahine blocked nine shots, six coming in the first half, to raise their season total to 167 and surpass the program's previous single-season record of 163 set in the 2002-03 season.
The UH defense held Cal State Fullerton to its lowest point total of the season and 22 points below its season average. The Titans shot 26.8% from the field with Cristina Jones and Talia Maxwell scoring 10 points each.
The 'Bows drained seven 3-pointers in the first half, with all three seniors hitting from long range as UH took a 33-22 lead into halftime. UH moved out to an early lead but an extended scoring drought helped the Titans move ahead 8-7 before Forsyth knocked down a corner 3 to push UH ahead going into the second.
Perez connected on the first two of UH's five 3-pointers in the second quarter. Kyra Webb and Rebecca Moors also hit from outside and UH opened up a 33-22 lead when Neverson hit from the top with 47 seconds left in the half.
Neverson and Forsyth combined to score UH's first 10 points of the third quarter and UH went up 47-27 when Tamilo scored inside. UH took a 53-33 lead into the fourth quarter and built its lead to as many as 24 before cruising to victory.
UH won on Senior Night for the fifth straight season and improved to 12-2 during head coach Laura Beeman's tenure.
The Rainbow Wahine embark on their final Big West road trip to close the regular season. UH opens the trip at UC Riverside on March 5 and finish out the regular season at Long Beach State on March 7 before heading to Las Vegas for the Credit Union 1 Big West Basketball Championships.
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